Europa League brings glory not bounty April 29, 2010 FULHAM’S Europa League adventure may have raised their profile and brought them several famous scalps, but it has not been a lucrative run. Estimates suggest the winners of the competition can expect to bank between £6.5m and £8.5m in prize money and television revenue. Runners-up take home at least £1m less, while teams who go [...]
St Nicholas Abbey to land O’Brien his sixth 2000 Guineas April 29, 2010 I was at Doncaster last season when ST NICHOLAS ABBEY spread-eagled a decent looking field in the Racing Post Trophy and thought then, as I do now, that I may have witnessed something special. It was the manner in which he effortlessly quickened away from his opposition that was so taking and if he lines [...]
the INSIDER April 29, 2010 Most of my big race hopes have bitten the dust, but Elusive Pimpernel still has a great chance in the 2000 Guineas tomorrow. The field may split in two and if it does, then Richard Hannon may hold the key in Canford Cliffs. Supposedly, he will be ‘buried’ to get the mile, but surely the [...]
Chelsea can take another big step towards the title with Anfield win April 29, 2010 LIVERPOOL v/s CHELSEA SUNDAY – 1.30PM SKY SPORTS 1 THE conspiracy theorists will be out in force if Liverpool succumb to Chelsea in what will effectively stop Man United breaking the Reds’ record of 18 league titles. However, things rarely work out like that in the modern game and you can be sure that with [...]
Mourinho: ‘It’s the greatest win of my life’ April 28, 2010 BARCELONA (1) v/s INTER MILAN (0) EMOTIONAL Jose Mourinho saw his Inter Milan side dump holders Barcelona out of the Champions League last night – and then described it as the best victory of his life. The former Chelsea boss spoke of his pride after leading the Nerazzurri to their first European final since 1972, [...]
Roy waits on doubt Zamora April 28, 2010 FULHAM (0) v/s HAMBURG (0) FULHAM boss Roy Hodgson insists he will not gamble on the fitness of top scorer Bobby Zamora for their crunch Europa League semi-final with Hamburg at Craven Cottage. The 19-goal striker limped out of the 0-0 first-leg draw in Germany a week ago with an Achilles problem, and is only [...]
Benitez praises Gerrard’s form amid off-field tittle-tattle April 28, 2010 LIVERPOOL (0) v/s ATLETICO MADRID (1) LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has hailed Steven Gerrard’s response to feverish speculation about his private life. Gerrard struck a brace against Burnley on Saturday amid suggestions – denied this week by wife Alex – that his marriage was in trouble. Benitez is relying heavily on his captain in tonight’s [...]
New keeper means City are vulnerable April 28, 2010 AMID all the wailing and gnashing of teeth about Manchester City being granted an emergency loan signing to solve their goalkeeping crisis, one thing has been largely overlooked. Marton Fulop, the man they’ve hired to bring the big-match experience they feel their fourth-choice stopper lacks, still represents a big risk as the season reaches its [...]
Fulop eyes top-four place April 28, 2010 MARTON Fulop has set his sights on the Champions League after completing a controversial loan switch to Manchester City. Fulop, 26, has joined from Sunderland after City successfully pleaded with the Premier League to make the emergency move. And the Hungary international could go straight into the team on Saturday when the Blues meet Aston [...]
Bopara stakes his claim as England rally April 28, 2010 RAVI BOPARA took his chance to impress the selectors with a magnificent knock as England opened their ICC World Twenty20 campaign with a seven-wicket warm-up win over Bangladesh at the Kensington Oval. Essex batsman Bopara got the nod to bat at three in the absence of Kevin Pietersen and smashed 62 off 48 balls as [...]